Everett softball finishes in top three for second consecutive year

LACEY —- The Wesco 3A softball teams showed that they were a force to be reckoned with at this weekend’s 3A state tournament.

The Everett softball team also may have showed that it was one of the greatest squads in program history.

For the second consecutive season, the Seagulls made it to the semifinals of the state tournament. A year after placing second, Everett rebounded after a 2-1 loss to Enumclaw in the semis and won two more games, including a 5-2 victory over Wesco rival Glacier Peak and a 14-4 win against Mt. Spokane, to place third at this year’s tournament at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey.

“Legacy. That’s what we’ve been talking about for two years,” said Everett head coach Mike Millar, who showed off a bracelet with the word “legacy” on it. “I think they could make a pretty strong case for being the best team that Everett’s ever had.”

While disappointed to not be going for the state championship once again, Everett (22-6 overall) battled back with two more victories to once again bring a trophy back from Lacey.

“I’m pretty happy. I’m happy for my seniors, to go out with a couple of big ‘W’s,’” Millar said. “It’s a good way for the senior class to go out.”

Everett senior pitcher Sydney Taggart, who will continue her career at Pacific Lutheran University, hit a home run in each of the Seagulls’ three games on Saturday.

Taggart also found a positive with going out on a win, as compared to a loss in the state championship the year before.

“We did our best,” Taggart said. “Even though things didn’t end up our way we still made a way to have it come out as a positive. I think we ended a good senior year.

“We just wanted to make the best of it and do the best we could do. Third place is better than losing twice.”

Millar agreed, guessing that Everett – which was celebrating with team pictures and hugs after their victory over the Wildcats – probably felt a bit more joy than Enumclaw, which placed second in the state after losing 10-0 to Meadowdale in the championship game.

“I bet we probably feel a little bit better than Enumclaw does right now,” Millar said. “You, obviously, want to make it to the championship game and play a good game there but yeah, going out like this probably feels a little bit better. It could be a better bus ride home for these girls than it was last year.”

Millar said that after last year’s strong showing at state, Everett had to adjust to the role of being a target for its opponents this time around.

“Last year we kind of came out of nowhere and kind of snuck up on people,” Millar said. “That was different. Last year, we talked about where we were trying to get. Then this year, we came in with a lot of expectations and a pretty big bulls eye on our back and we had to kind of work through that and figure out how to play with being the favorite in a lot of games and it took a little while to kind of get used to that.

“I think we were truly playing our best ball by the end of the season and that’s all you can ask for.”

Taggart believes Millar and the Seagulls – who graduate Taggart, Erin Gordon, Gabby Koehler, Whitney Harris and Karissa Johnson – will continue to be a force in a strong Wesco 3A.

“I think we definitely made a positive impact on our school, especially with softball,” Taggart said. “I know that there’s a lot of young people coming in so it’s going to be a new program, but still one on the rise.”

Everett 14, Mt. Spokane 4 (6)

At Regional Athletic Complex

WP: Sydney Taggart. LP: Jesse Dupuis. Individual highlights: Mt. Spokane—Jolene House (2-3, BB, RS); McKenzie Funk (2B, RBI); Kaitlyn Turner (2B, RS). Everett—Taggart (1-3, HR, BB, 2 RS, 2 RBI); Megan Gordon (3-5, 2B, 2 RS, game-winning RBI single); Gabby Koehler (4-5, 2B, 3 RS); Karissa Johnson (2-4, HR, 2 RBI). Records—Mt. Spokane 20-9. Everett 22-6.

Everett 5, Glacier Peak 2

At Regional Athletic Complex

WP: Sydney Taggart. LP: Kendall Curtis. Individual highlights: Everett—Taggart (2-run HR); Gabby Koehler (2-4, 2 RBI). Glacier Peak—Ashley Slemmons (1-2, RBI, BB); Curtis (1-3, RS). Records—Everett 21-6 overall. Glacier Peak 20-9.

Enumclaw 2, Everett 1

At Regional Athletic Complex

WP: Quinn Breidenbach. LP: Sydney Taggart. Individual highlights: Enumclaw—Breidenbach (HR, 2 RS); Rechelle Dunn (RBI). Everett—Taggart (HR); Gabby Koehler (1-3); Whitney Harris (1-3). Records—Enumclaw 21-1 overall. Everett 20-6.